Conference to focus on growing vegetables

Gardeners wanting to make their thumbs a little greener will get a chance Tuesday.

West Texas A&M University is hosting the High Plains Vegetable Conference to enlighten novices and experts. A dozen experts are scheduled to speak and serve as panelists at the conference.

The daylong event includes a catered lunch.

If You Go

What: High Plains Vegetable Conference

When: 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Alumni banquet facility at West Texas A&M University, Canyon

Cost: $25 pre-register, $30 at the door (includes lunch)

Contact: Greta Schuster, 651-2280 or gschuster@mail.wtamu.edu

"Topics include alternatives to pesticides, successful organic growing techniques, crop rotation practices and even an update on farm labor legislation and worker programs," said Greta Schuster, WT associate professor of integrated pest management and co-organizer of the conference.

The morning session will include talks on compounds in vegetables and fruit that contribute to making them healthy, honey bees, organics, farm labor and the use of fungicides and insect control in cucurbit crops.